The Socialist Party is a democratic, multi-tendency, and membership-based political party and activist organization, with continuous opportunities for involvement at the state, local, and national level. All Michigan residents holding agreement with the Socialist Party Statement of Principles are eligible for membership in the Socialist Party of Michigan.
The Socialist Party of Michigan is the chartered Michigan state party branch of the Socialist Party USA, holding statewide jurisdiction on behalf of the national Party. Accordingly, by joining the Socialist Party of Michigan, you additionally assume automatic national membership in the Socialist Party USA, as well as membership in any Socialist Party local branch whose chartered jurisdiction includes the area where you reside.
Membership Includes all of the Following:
- Full voting, motioning, and proposal-making rights at all state and local SP membership meetings and conventions; state, local, and national membership referenda; and within any national Party commissions that a member chooses to join;
- Subscription & posting access to the SPMI members’ listserve, the SPUSA members’ listserve, the SPUSA members’ discussion board, and any applicable local members’ listserves;
- Socialist Party membership card/stamp-booklet;
- Subscription to the SP’s national magazine, The Socialist (published bi-monthly);
- Subscription to the SP Women’s Commission’s magazine, Socialist Women (when published);
- Subscription to the SP national internal discussion bulletin, Hammer & Tongs (published quarterly);
- Subscription to the SP National Office’s newsletter, The Organizer (published quarterly);
- Subscription to the SPMI State Office’s internal newsletter, Red Letter (when published);
Sliding Scale for Annual National and State Membership Dues
Annual payment of both national and state membership dues is required for Socialist Party membership.
Full-Time Student (New Members Only): National Dues: $15.00.
State Dues: $5- (incomes under $20k) National Dues: base rate: $30.00 or sliding scale up to $75.00
State Dues: $15 - (net incomes between $20k-$35k) National dues: base rate: $75.00 or sliding scale up to $150.00
State Dues: $25 - (net incomes between $35k-$50k) National Dues: base rate: $150.00 or sliding scale up to $270.00
State Dues: $50 - (net incomes of $50k-$65k) National Dues: base rate: $270 plus 1% of net income between $50,000 – $65,000/yr
State Dues: base rate: $54 + .20% (1/5 of 1%) of net income between $50,000 and $65,000/yr - (net incomes over $65k) National Dues: base rate: $420 plus 2% of net income over $65,000/yr
State Dues: base rate: $84 + .40% (2/5 of 1%) of net income over $65,000/yr - Poverty and prisoners = Waivable (must request dues waiver in writing)
Click Here to Apply for Membership Online
Click Here to Download a Printable Membership Application
After reading our Statement of Principles, send your application and annual dues to:
Socialist Party of Michigan
2937 E. Grand Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48202
Once your application is received, an elected SPMI representative will contact you to provide a further introductory rundown of the Socialist Party’s principles and organizational structure, and correspondingly address any questions you may have, prior to officially processing your membership admission at our next applicable state/local membership meeting (or State/Local Executive Committee meeting, if no applicable state/local membership meeting is scheduled within the following two weeks).
We request that you submit your first year’s annual membership dues (or applicable waiver request) concurrently with your application, in order to allow for regular and expedient processing. A full and immediate refund of dues payments is automatically provided in the rare occurrence of any circumstance or issue serving to preclude or postpone an applicant’s direct and timely membership admission, or at any time upon a pending applicant’s request.
Checks for national and state membership dues can be made out separately to “Socialist Party USA” and “Socialist Party of Michigan” respectively, or combined on a single check made out to “Socialist Party of Michigan.” If providing both your national and state dues payment on a single check, please include specification of which portion of your dues payment is for national dues and which portion is for state dues.
You can also pay your national and state membership dues online through PayPal after filling out our online membership application form at the link above To pay your dues through PayPal, click the yellow PayPal button at the bottom of this page. If paying both your national and state dues through a single PayPal transaction, please specify, within either your online application or transaction details, which portion of your dues payment is for national dues and which portion is for state dues.
